- Mar 19, 2013
- 3
- 0
- 9
Greetings and salutations, everyone!
I just got my first ducklings from Tractor Supply. I wanted to start my first flock with chicks, but the ducks were just too irresistible. They are growing like furry little weeds and are a too funny. Have a look at them and see if you can guess the breeds.
I got the babies a week ago on Wednesday evening. They settled in to the brooders quite nicely. I use two and swap them out twice a day. One with tall sides for unobserved night time and when I'm out of the house, and one with shorter sides for when I am piddling around the house. I take them out to different spots around the house 1-2 times a day, but they are still overwhelmed by the huge outdoors.
I noticed they were constantly standing with one foot in the waterer, so on day 2 I put this shallow bowl in their day brooder. I have plenty of leaves, pine, and mulch, so I use that as the bedding. I also have plenty of moss growing around, so I pull up clumps of that and put it around the wading bowl. It works fantastically for soaking up the splashed water. The wet mulch goes into the garden every day.
Day 3 in the kiddie pool. They are already old pros. (#1 nibbling the moss, #2/3 sitting up.)
Day 3 their second trip outside. I think they are narcoleptic, they plop down to sleep every 5-10 minutes while outside. (#1 on the right, #2/3 on the left.)
Day 4 and they are getting bigger. Utterly pooped after I let them swim in a huge mixing bowl. They were showing off their diving skills within seconds. They have also devised a plan to sleep next to the waterer so they can sip throughout naps without having to get up. Smart little boogers. (#2/3 on top, #1 on the bottom.)
Day 6 These are "the twins" (#2/3) and this is their last picture together before "The Incident."
Here's what I think on the breeds.
#1 - Pekin. He's already bigger than the others.
It is golden yellow, has a rounder head, fuller body, a pink beak with pink/orange feet, and a horizontal stance. It is very docile, seems to be more independent from the others, loves to be held and rubbed, and likes being covered with my hand or a towel. When I say it likes to be covered, I mean he konks out sleeping in 2 seconds flat. When I speak to the ducklings, this one is very attentive, looks right at me and studies my face. It looks exactly like everyone else's pictures of Pekin ducklings.
#2/3 - First guess was Runner, now I'm not sure. Runners aren't on the list for my TSC.
They are flat yellow with some dark-ish undertones only on their heads. The above picture looks like a stripe at the eyes, but you can't really see that all the time. They have a slightly sleeker body, more oval head, and darker beaks and feet. They don't stand as erect as runner ducks, but are definitely not as horizontal as #1. They are much more flighty and whistle quite a bit, even when sleeping, and they do not like to be held. They like to nestle their chest or side into my hand, but not sit on it or have anything over their back. They might as well have been glued together because they did NOT like to be separated. After the one was killed, the other calmed down almost immediately, squeaks much less, tolerates my touch more, and stays close to #1 but not as much as his missing twin. I discovered today that it likes me to rub it's tiny little wings.
My TSC lists Mallard, Swedish, Khaki Campbell, Rouen, and White Pekin on the sign of available ducks. They are mixed in the same bin and the clerks don't really know the difference. I've looked at Ideal's website, and for yellow ducklings, they also have Fawn & White Runners, which is what I thought the twins were, and Buff Ducks.
Do you think #2/3 could be Silver or Splash Swedish? Aren't Swedes supposed to be super docile? If they are still getting their ducks from Ideal Poultry, perhaps I did get Runners or Buff. Maybe Ideal tossed in breeds not on the TSC list since it's technically hatchery choice?
Thanks for reading!
I just got my first ducklings from Tractor Supply. I wanted to start my first flock with chicks, but the ducks were just too irresistible. They are growing like furry little weeds and are a too funny. Have a look at them and see if you can guess the breeds.
I got the babies a week ago on Wednesday evening. They settled in to the brooders quite nicely. I use two and swap them out twice a day. One with tall sides for unobserved night time and when I'm out of the house, and one with shorter sides for when I am piddling around the house. I take them out to different spots around the house 1-2 times a day, but they are still overwhelmed by the huge outdoors.
I noticed they were constantly standing with one foot in the waterer, so on day 2 I put this shallow bowl in their day brooder. I have plenty of leaves, pine, and mulch, so I use that as the bedding. I also have plenty of moss growing around, so I pull up clumps of that and put it around the wading bowl. It works fantastically for soaking up the splashed water. The wet mulch goes into the garden every day.
Day 3 in the kiddie pool. They are already old pros. (#1 nibbling the moss, #2/3 sitting up.)
Day 3 their second trip outside. I think they are narcoleptic, they plop down to sleep every 5-10 minutes while outside. (#1 on the right, #2/3 on the left.)
Day 4 and they are getting bigger. Utterly pooped after I let them swim in a huge mixing bowl. They were showing off their diving skills within seconds. They have also devised a plan to sleep next to the waterer so they can sip throughout naps without having to get up. Smart little boogers. (#2/3 on top, #1 on the bottom.)
Day 6 These are "the twins" (#2/3) and this is their last picture together before "The Incident."
Here's what I think on the breeds.
#1 - Pekin. He's already bigger than the others.
It is golden yellow, has a rounder head, fuller body, a pink beak with pink/orange feet, and a horizontal stance. It is very docile, seems to be more independent from the others, loves to be held and rubbed, and likes being covered with my hand or a towel. When I say it likes to be covered, I mean he konks out sleeping in 2 seconds flat. When I speak to the ducklings, this one is very attentive, looks right at me and studies my face. It looks exactly like everyone else's pictures of Pekin ducklings.
#2/3 - First guess was Runner, now I'm not sure. Runners aren't on the list for my TSC.
They are flat yellow with some dark-ish undertones only on their heads. The above picture looks like a stripe at the eyes, but you can't really see that all the time. They have a slightly sleeker body, more oval head, and darker beaks and feet. They don't stand as erect as runner ducks, but are definitely not as horizontal as #1. They are much more flighty and whistle quite a bit, even when sleeping, and they do not like to be held. They like to nestle their chest or side into my hand, but not sit on it or have anything over their back. They might as well have been glued together because they did NOT like to be separated. After the one was killed, the other calmed down almost immediately, squeaks much less, tolerates my touch more, and stays close to #1 but not as much as his missing twin. I discovered today that it likes me to rub it's tiny little wings.
My TSC lists Mallard, Swedish, Khaki Campbell, Rouen, and White Pekin on the sign of available ducks. They are mixed in the same bin and the clerks don't really know the difference. I've looked at Ideal's website, and for yellow ducklings, they also have Fawn & White Runners, which is what I thought the twins were, and Buff Ducks.
Do you think #2/3 could be Silver or Splash Swedish? Aren't Swedes supposed to be super docile? If they are still getting their ducks from Ideal Poultry, perhaps I did get Runners or Buff. Maybe Ideal tossed in breeds not on the TSC list since it's technically hatchery choice?
Thanks for reading!
